The body of a mother-of-five who mysteriously vanished two weeks ago during a late-night bushwalk with her boyfriend two has been found.
Esther Wallace, 47, was reported missing on November 30 after she went hiking with her partner at Federal Falls in Mount Canobolas, near Orange in the central-west of NSW, at 1.30am.
Her body was found by police search teams on Sunday afternoon – with detectives confirming they are not treating the death as suspicious despite the strange circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
She was found about 2km from where she was last seen in the national park after she and her partner went on the early morning walk to watch the sunrise, which would have taken place at about 5.40am.
Esther Wallace had a partner for two years who lives in Orange, about three hours’ from where she lived in Tottenham
Police said the pair were somehow separated from each other on the track and Ms Wallace’s partner reported her missing at about 8am.
She was wearing an orange jacket, black pants and sandals despite near-freezing temperatures at the time.
On Friday, her mother Lyn Wallace told Daily Mail Australia her daughter had been in a relationship with a man from Orange for three years.
Ms Wallace lived with her mother in Tottenham, about three hours’ drive away.
The boyfriend would visit on Fridays, before heading home on Sundays. On the last weekend in November, he stayed in town before they went to Mount Canobolas together.
Detectives stressed Ms Wallace’s partner was never a suspect – and said he has been cooperating with investigators.
Ms Wallace has five children. One of her sons, 17, believes she’s dead and is upset that he’ll never be able to make amends with her
‘A body, believed to be that of a woman missing from the state’s central west, has been located in the Mount Canobolas State Recreation Area,’ NSW police said in a statement on Sunday.
‘She was reported missing to officers from the Central West Police District who co-ordinated a multi-agency search to locate her.’
The large search involved local police as well as the Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit, PolAir, the Dog Unit, Chifley Rural Crime Investigators, police from neighbouring Districts and Western Region staff.
They were assisted by Bush Search and Rescue (BSAR) operators attached to the NSW SES, NSW RFS, Cabonne Council, NSW Parks and Wildlife Service, Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Forestry NSW and volunteers.
‘Following an extensive land and air search of the surrounding areas, a body was located just before 4pm … approximately 2km from where the woman was last seen,’ Police said.
They added they have informed Ms Wallace’s family.
The pair went for a bushwalk at 1am – Ms Wallace went walking in sandals, despite near-freezing temperatures
Police earlier found a white crochet coat which had helped them narrow the search area.
Mrs Wallace earlier said the situation ‘doesn’t make sense’, and can’t understand why the couple decided to walk in the bush, in the dark, at 1.30am.
‘Esther loved camping, but she wasn’t a walker,’ she said.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Esther Wallace is pictured with her son, Tyrone Stewart. She disappeared during a midnight bushwalk
‘Who goes bushwalking at 1am?’ A family left confused – and at loggerheads
Another close relative asked Daily Mail Australia, ‘who goes bushwalking at 1am to see a sunrise at 6am, in sandals?’
He explained Ms Wallace had a difficult upbringing and fell into violent relationships when she was younger – which resulted in two apprehended violence orders against two men, taken out by police on her behalf.
Each AVO was in place for two years as a result of domestic violence committed against her.
There were two domestic violence orders against her in 2018, but both were dismissed.
Ms Wallace’s mother fears the worst, and doesn’t understand why she would go walking so early in the morning
The family member hasn’t had much contact with Ms Wallace over the years, but believes she had a ‘big heart’.
Her son believes his mother is dead, and is devastated that he may never be able to make amends with her.
Meanwhile, the search for Ms Wallace has divided her family and friends.
Relatives and mates started bickering on a Facebook page dedicated to find her earlier this week, named ‘Where’s Esther Wallace?’
Some were furious the page was created by the family of Ms Wallace’s boyfriend.
Ms Wallace’s close friends tried to order them to hand over administration rights to her children, but that never happened. Instead, the boyfriend’s family shut the page down.
Ms Wallace’s boyfriend has since deactivated his social media accounts.
White coat clue to missing Esther
The police investigation is continuing.
In a press conference on Friday, detectives said they found a white crochet coat and other pieces of clothing but will not be able to link them to Ms Wallace until DNA results are returned.
‘Finding those garments now gives us an area to focus our attention,’ Central West Police District commander, Assistant Superintendent Gerard Lawson said.
‘For the sake of the family, it’s important to try and get them some answers and try to find her.’
He stressed that Ms Wallace’s partner is not a suspect and is providing information to police.
Investigators found a white crochet coat in the bush on Thursday. Ms Wallace is pictured with her son, Tyrone
‘I would caution the community about speculating on what they think might have happened. At the moment, for us, it’s an open question,’ he said.
‘We’ve got an open mind to all possibilities, but we certainly don’t believe at this stage it looks like a homicide.’
The investigation has been able to address some of the more ‘bizarre’ aspects of Ms Wallace’s disappearance, Mr Lawson said, but he declined to give further details.
Temperatures on Mount Canobolas have fallen below zero this week, with some days of strong, cold winds and rain.
‘The tragic reality is that day by day, the chances of finding her alive are diminishing, but we still hold hope and we’re still in contact with the family,’ Mr Lawson said.
‘We’ll only know when we find her.’
Specialist search dogs will be brought to the mountain early next week to help the police operation.
Police Rescue officers walked the Federal Falls trail on Friday morning, taking a steep path that leads to a fast-running waterfall.
Mr Lawson said it was unlikely Ms Wallace had made her way off the mountain, but continued to ask the community for help.
Anyone with any information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
